The first step in the renovation of one historic Broad Street building is complete.

Earlier this month, workers completed the installation of a new rubber roof on the top of the Tepper’s building.

Glenn Reid, owner of Montgomery-based Interstate Roofing — the company that started removing the old metal roof in May, said the installation went according to plan.

“Our work went fine,” Reid said. “Right now, we’re just waiting on the final inspection, but that roof is in place and it will do a good job protecting the structure from the elements for a long time.”

The building, which was purchased by the Freedom Foundation in 2007, is in need of renovations after sitting vacant for four decades.

On the Freedom Foundations’ website, the organization described its plans for the finished building.

The plans include community spaces, classrooms and a café.

Reid said the new roof would do a better job of insulating the building, which was built in 1907, from extreme summer and winter temperature.

“This kind of roof reflects the sun’s heat much better than the standard asphalt roofs, and it is less expensive than an asphalt or metal roof,” Reid said.

Reid said the rubber roofing, which is manufactured by GAF Roofing, Shingle and Materials, comes with a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty.

In an earlier interview with the Times-Journal, Freedom Foundation community development volunteer A.J. Page said the organization planned to completely stabilize the structure once the roof work is completed.

Page said the work yet to be done to the building, including massive interior and exterior, would begin once the organization has enough funds on hand.

“The Freedom Foundation is a non-profit, so we have to wait on donations to work on projects like this,” Page said. “We have been getting design work and construction documents done, and we’ve gone out and got the funding to get the project started. And while we don’t have a deadline for the project, we are hoping to have all the work completed sooner rather than later.”

Selma Mayor George Evans said Tuesday he believed a renovated Tepper’s building would be a welcome change in the city’s skyline.

“It’s not only one of the tallest buildings in town, but it’s one of the nicest buildings in our city, and it would help to have a different look,” Evans said. “When we talk about our vision for the downtown, it would be great to have the building and some other buildings upgraded.”

Representatives from the Freedom Foundation could not be reached for comment about the timeline for work on the building.